The patroles were doubled. The horses were kept saddled and
bridled. The soldiers slept on their arms; Pizarro went the
rounds regularly to see that every sentinel was on his post. The
little army, in short, was in a state of preparation for instant
attack.
Men suffering from fear are not likely to be too scrupulous as to
the means of removing the cause of it. Murmurs, mingled with
gloomy menaces, were now heard against the Inca, the author of
these machinations. Many began to demand his life as necessary
to the safety of the army. Among these, the most vehement were
Almagro and his followers. They had not witnessed the seizure of
Atahuallpa. They had no sympathy with him in his fallen state.
They regarded him only as an incumbrance, and their desire now
was to push their fortunes in the country, since they had got so
little of the gold of Caxamalca. They were supported by
Riquelme, the treasurer, and by the rest of the royal officers.
These men had been left at San Miguel by Pizarro, who did not
care to have such officia spies on his movements. But they had
come to the camp with Almagro, and they loudly demanded the
Inca's death, as indispensable to the tranquillity of the
country, and the interests of the Crown. *22
[Footnote 22: Pedro Pizarro, Descub. y Conq., Ms. - Relacion del
Primer. Descub., Ms. - Ped. Sancho, Rel., ap. Ramusio, tom. III.
fol. 100.
These cavaliers were all present in the camp.]
To these dark suggestions Pizarro turned - or seemed to turn - an
unwilling ear, showing visible reluctance to proceed to extreme
measures with his prisoner.
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